FAITHFUL READERS! I am back to resurrect this almost dead fanfic! I hope did a good job alerting those who wanted to be alerted about the recent update of this story! I apologise for the long wait but recently, Uni stuff has literally taken over my short life and so I had to postpone writing... Anyway, here's the new chapter! Please (to new faithful readers) read & review, you know you want to. It'll make my day too when I see an email in my inbox regarding "a review"! Cheers for ya time!

Etaria stared at the High Lady. She looks so calm yet so furious. There was no movement from either side. Etaria began to forget about the stinging pain at her throat, the pressure was still there but it was constant.

No one wants to make the first move, whoever goes first will be at the disadvantage Hewend thought to himself. He let his mind open and was instantly greeted with a commanding presence.

- Hewend, do not attack.

- Yes, High Lady but Etaria-

- Reinforcements led by Lord Balkan should be here soon, I have commanded them to attack from behind. Etaria will be fine.

Hewend felt his muscles protest, every fibre in him was rigged with tension and Etaria's life was on the line. He felt rage rip through him. The High Lady glanced across at him.

- Hewend, do not forget your training.

The High Lady's warning pushed his emotions aside. She's right...

- We don't want another life in danger. No matter how strong you are, there will always be weaknesses.

Hewend clenched his jaw and stared at his enemies. Their ugly grins made his stomach twist in disgust. Who do they think they are?

"Oh? I'd expected a bit more, High Lady. Seems that you're too scared to even move."

"Right back at you," Hewend hissed between his gritted teeth. The cloaked man's grin morphed into a sneer.

"I admire your bravery, but your pride blinds you from the obvious-"

"Darika, magicians are coming," the lead intruder turned slightly to his minion.

- Now.

Hewend blinked as the High Lady's command echoed through the town. Strengthening his shield, Hewend began raining forcestrikes upon the cloaked figures.

- Protect Etaria, Hewend!

Hewend strode forwards with the High Lady, allowing a fraction of his anger to spill through.

The cloaked figures retaliated with as much force but the surprise attack from behind faltered their advance.

"Kill the girl!" the man named Darika hissed as he sent a stunstrike in Hewend's direction. Blocking the attack with his own, Hewend aimed four more forcestrikes at Etaria's captive. Losing formation, the cloaked figures began to scatter.

Etaria felt herself being yanked back. She twisted her neck away from prying fingers, there's no way she was going to allow them to steal her power to kill her friends. Her kidnapper spun her around. Just as his face was about to be in view, she jabbed two fingers into his eyes.

She flung backwards and met the sting of a shield as the man crouched down in agony. Etaria narrowed her eyes, there was something about that scream that sounded familiar...

"You fool! Get up and out of here!" the voice of Darika bellowed out towards the fallen man over the chaos. Etaria looked behind her.

"Hewend!"

"Blast at the shield, Etaria!" Hewend shouted, his pace uncut. Then he sent an attack towards Etaria. Her eyes widened in horror.

"Hewend, what are you-?!" but the attack dissolved into something solid just in front of her. Of course, I'm still within the shield! Hewend's words then hit realisation. Mustering up her remaining strength, she sent a stunstrike at the shield. Her red attack collided into the shield and it began to shimmer.

"Keep going!" but Etaria didn't hear Hewend's words as she felt a strong pair of arms wrap around her waist.

"You, trouble, are coming with us," she felt a poisonous voice sneer into her ear. Then she was being pulled back and away from Hewend.

"ETARIA!" was the last she heard before everything went black, is this the last time I see Kyralia...?

Cheers for reading! New chapter will on soon, I have completed the plot line (have i mentioned that already....?)! Sit tight, my faithful readers and byes for now!

Shaari